The Arizona Cardinals were in desperation mode. The club had just suffered through the retired Kurt Warner’s replacements, finishing a dreadful 5-11 in 2010. Derek Anderson, John Skelton and Max Hall combined for some awful quarterback play, prompting management to search for a quick solution for the position.
The Philadelphia Eagles were dangling 26-year old signal-caller Kevin Kolb. Rod Graves, the Cards’ general manager at the time, took the bait. A trade was consummated on July 28, 2011, when Arizona sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick to Philly for Kolb.
Besides some exorbitant compensation, the Cardinals handed their new addition a ridiculous five-year, $64 million contract ($21 million guaranteed).